Short hops and hard knocks with Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne.

Pedroia back to the DL

You wonder how much more the Red Sox can take. Kevin Youkilis is out for the year. Jacoby Ellsbury probably is too. Mike Cameron is out for the year. And now Dustin Pedroia is back on the disabled list with recurring pain in his foot after just two days of action.

Now, the Red Sox will try to stay afloat in the pennant race with their invaluable sparkplug again out for an indefinite period of time.

Will he back once the 15-day DL stint has expired?

“I don’t know, it’s probably not fair to Pedey to say that,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “When it heals, he’ll play. When he does play, we might have to not play him every day. If we can play him without risk to him hurting himself, we would love to do that. But not until [then].”

Pedroia fractured the navicular bone in his left foot on June 25 at San Francisco. He came back on Tuesday night and started two straight days and was originally in Thursday’s lineup. But during batting practice before Thursday’s game, Pedroia wasn’t running well and was scratched.

The hope is that he would feel better when he woke up on Friday. Instead, Pedroia felt worse, and it was decided that a return to the disabled list was the best course of action.

“I’m going back on the DL. I’m not feeling very good,” Pedroia said. “I played those two games and tried to do it and then yesterday I couldn’t do much and then today was a lot worse. They’re backing me off and not letting me do anything.”

Pedroia, however, wanted to emphasize that he hasn’t done further damage to his foot. In fact, a CT-scan taken by Boston’s medical staff on Friday proved that. The foot is simply still healing.

“They did a scan and while it showed really good healing, it also showed that there’s still probably some healing to go,” said Francona. “I think the layman’s version is that they tried to impress upon him a lot that if it hurt, you better tell us, because then you’re going to hurt yourself. He did that, and we give him some credit.”

To replace Pedroia on the roster, the Red Sox selected the contract of Yamaico Navarro from Triple-A Pawtucket. The 22-year-old Navarro hails from the Dominican Republic. He can play second, short and third. Jed Lowrie and Bill Hall are likely to get the majority of starts at second base while Pedroia is out.

Pedroia is confident he won’t be shut down for the season.

“I don’t think so,” Pedroia said. “From what they told me, it’s just not all the way healed so it’s going to hurt so I’m still at risk for other things so that’s why they kind of shut me down. I’ve got to make sure I’m OK. If I hurt myself bad, it could not mess me up for next year, it could mess me up for my career. Hopefully I don’t do that.”

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33 Comments

Another reason why this team is DEAD this year. This night was inexcusable. In a good year, we’d laugh it off, but its another nail in the coffin. Lester has been inconsistent all year and this is another example. Beckett has been fairly consistent but terrible. Who do you blame? Farrell, Tito, Lester and Beckett. Who knows.
Wait till next year.

Just wondering if Freddie Patek will hit a H.R. tonight? LOL! My oh my, just when you think the Red Sox have hit rock bottom then something like this happens. As bad as this loss is, remember it’s only one loss. Thank heaven baseball isn’t like the Tour De France, they’ll start tomorrow’s game at 0-0.

Reading Ttio’s comments from last night, I could hear, for the first time, utter frustration on his voice. This is a broken team and its obvious where we are going…and its not up.
Next year has to be better but it seems since 2007, the Sox have had a slow and steady decline in the ratings. In 2008, it was one game away and in 2009 we didn’t even defeat the Angels. In 2010, we won’t make the playoffs.
I can’t blame this year on Theo…sort of. His choice of Lugo Lackey and Craperon didn’t help. In fairness to Cameron he busted his tail off and played in pain. I respected him and his drive. Drew on the other hand wouldn’t play with a hangnail.
Sox desperately need some smart moves by Theo Epstein next year. However, the recent purchase of two penguins and a walrus for $240 million from the Antartic does not inspire me despite the fact that Theo assures the Sox fans that the penquins will really add a lot of range to the infield.

Keep in my that I am not defending the front office and/or Theo Epstein.
If Josh had pitched a stellar season and Theo had NOT signed him during the season the fans would have been up in arms about that too, because then the contract haggling would have started.
The theme for this entire season,from the FO to the bat boys is “We can’t win for losing”. Its so incredibly easy for us to sit here second guess the team and its decisions. Its very easy when we are risking nothing with the decisions we would have made. I imagine it’s quite different when your job and gazillions of $$’s are hanging out there in the wind. I like the TV show “Jeopardy”. I win ALL the time. But I’m not there in the studio with all the hot lights, cameras and ALL THE PRESSURE!!!
If it was as easy as we all make it out to be, we’d all be MLB GM’s making the money that Epstein makes.

And while right now I think that Beckett and Lester should be tarred and feathered, then dipped in honey and staked to an ant hill, they are, at the end of the day excellent pitchers who are simply having trouble pitching with their heads up their butts.

No, seriously, take a look around at the rest of MLB. This is a strange year and lots of “great pitchers” are struggling. I’m not making excuses for them by any means. This is the kind of season we as RedSox fans have temporarily forgotten could happen. The reason for the Amnesia?? 2004 and 2007.

One point of consolation?? Rays and Yankees also lose on Friday night…
ONWARD AND UPWARD..

Theo has lots of $$$$ in hand ( only Cashman has more to play with ) and Theo has not used his $$$$ wisely. When your the g.m. of the Red Sox, your in the “hot seat” and not many if any seats in sports are hotter! Personally I believe Theo has done a GREAT job with the farm system, no g.m. in my lifetime has done a better job with the farm. I don’t believe he has spent the money he has in hand wisely. Dice-K ( over 100 million dollars ) Drew ( 70 million ) Lugo ( 36 million ) Add those numbers up, UGLY! Dice-K is nothing more than a 4th starter, Lugo is a A.A. s.s.–That’s over 210 million dollars spent and they could have done MUCH better with that $$$$$ than what they have. Money not well spent. If you have the $$$$$$, spend it “wisely” –don’t spend it like a fool. This teams payroll is almost 190 million! Yikes. T.B. has a payroll roughly around 70 million, safe to say they are spending their money wisely. Theo needs to look at T.B. and Minn. and take a look at what they are doing because they have far less financial resources than Boston does but those teams are MUCH better than Boston this year! Would Boston be closer to the w.c. and division if they were healthy. Chances are yes but injures are a part of sports, always has been and always will. A lot of folks were talking about the “injured” returning and I always stated ” who’s to say they will produce when they return”–Ellsbury back briefly and Pedroia back for 48 hours.

Under Theo the Red Sox have drafted Bard, Papelbon, Pedroia, Buchholz, Lowrie, Ellsbury, Kalish and others. Theo oversees it all when it comes to the farm system, obviously he isn’t watching the top prospects on a daily basis but I assume he gets reports from each manager in the system on a daily basis such as phone conversations, emails, text messages and other ways as well. I read an article that Clev. g.m.( Mark Shapiro ) likes to talk to his managers on the phone on a daily basis. At first he said he would get emails from them but wanted to talk to them directly on the phone and here their excitement when talking about a particular prospect. Mike Hazen ( Red Sox farm director ) is a guy that Theo probably deals with on a daily basis–assuming this of course. The guys that in the Red Sox farm system have all been hired by Theo. My opinion Theo deserves a ton of credit with the Red Sox farm system, it’s one of the areas he has really concentrated on when he took over as Red Sox g.m. Obviously their is a lot more going on than we will ever know. Also Theo and the baseball ops. dept. has done a great job when it comes to adding some good depth to the system as well. Guys like McDonald, Nava and others that are not top prospects but have played a nice role with the big club this year! Allard Baird has played a big role with the farm system as well, Ben Cherrington is another individual that deserves credit as well, of course other names. Developing players

Under Theo the Red Sox have drafted Bard, Papelbon, Pedroia, Buchholz, Lowrie, Ellsbury, Kalish and others. Theo oversees it all when it comes to the farm system, obviously he isn’t watching the top prospects on a daily basis but I assume he gets reports from each manager in the system on a daily basis such as phone conversations, emails, text messages and other ways as well. I read an article that Clev. g.m.( Mark Shapiro ) likes to talk to his managers on the phone on a daily basis. At first he said he would get emails from them but wanted to talk to them directly on the phone and here their excitement when talking about a particular prospect. Mike Hazen ( Red Sox farm director ) is a guy that Theo probably deals with on a daily basis–assuming this of course. The guys that in the Red Sox farm system have all been hired by Theo. My opinion Theo deserves a ton of credit with the Red Sox farm system, it’s one of the areas he has really concentrated on when he took over as Red Sox g.m. Obviously their is a lot more going on than we will ever know. Also Theo and the baseball ops. dept. has done a great job when it comes to adding some good depth to the system as well. Guys like McDonald, Nava and others that are not top prospects but have played a nice role with the big club this year! Allard Baird has played a big role with the farm system as well, Ben Cherrington is another individual that deserves credit as well, of course other names.

BosoxBrian,
That is absolutely something I agree with is how Boston handles its farm system. I’m not sure how much Theo is involved in that situation but I’m sure he has a big hand in it. Correct me if I’m wrong though, isn’t somebody else managing the farm system?
Incidentally, the Penquins are named Tennesee and Sparky and the walrus is named Chumbly. They are supposed to be our hottest prosects for 2011. They will spend time in Pawtucket learning how to be human-like before they become starters replacing Ellsbury (traded to the Orioles for Lugo), Clay B. (released on assignment) and Pedroia also released on assignment :)

Brian:
I agree with your assessment of Theo particularly with reference to $$$$ spent on the acquisitions. I would qualify by saying Theo did spend the outrageous $100M posting fee on Dice-K. But the money didn’t go to Diceman. Dice-M makes $8M+ as a 4th starters. There are many 4th starters out there make more than Dice does and not necessarily perform better either. Theo’s prized acquisitions were Beckett and Lowell which were only good for 2007. And he did give up Hanley Ramirez. Beltre is a good acquistion for 2010. Can’t imagine where the Sox could be without Beltre’s bat.
I will leave the issue of Beckett later. Beckett is still a “good” pitcher although he gets hit hard with his FB in the strike zone. JF or a good pitching coach has to work with Beck’s off speed pitches and curves. Go Sox.

007…
The Sebui Lions are laughing all the way to the bank. I assume they cashed that check quick.
Theo and the Red Sox spent over 100 million on Dice-K including the 51.1 million posting fee! In other words to get Dice-K they spent over 100 million to get him in a Red Sox uniform. Money not well spent. If your paying a 4th starter 8m+ a year, not good! Theo was hanging out in South America following Pear Jam ( a month before he left Fenway in his infamous gorilla suit on Oct. 31 ) when Bill LaJoie and others pulled off the Beckett trade around Thanksgiving time! Without LaJoie and others pulling off that trade, 2007 would have never happened!

I am extremely pleased that the fan favorite Lowrie walked off with the bomb.
As I said last night, the game should be ovah in the regulation time. A team didn’t score with a runner on 2B and none out in the 8th was frustrating. Hall had a terrible night at the plate and with the glove. I haven’t read the post game comments. Did Hall mean to bunt or to swing it away? If Hall had advanced the runner for an out, Dice-K would be credited with the win and Bard or Paps the save. When Kalish pinched ran for Lowell at 2B, I thought there would be some kind of play, it didn’t happen. Can’t complain, a win is a win.

Sox got lucky. Lowrie redeamed himself. he truly is a gifted athlete that can help the Sox down the line. Fortunately Theo will trade him for some washed up player at 5 years at $120 million. I’m sure Clay will also follow that route. Go Theo.
(fortunately I’m not cranky)

After Friday night’s disaster, Boston has a chance to take 2 of 3 from Toronto. Buchholz faced the Jays up in Toronto just a couple of weeks ago and shut them down. Let’s hope that is the case today. Boston roughed up Marcum up in Toronto. Boston was playing H.R. Derby that night in Toronto.

Esp. considering the two rain delays he had to contend with today, SUPER job by Buch, hurling 6 shutout innings! WAY TO GO, BUCH! Very few hits for the Red Sox so far, but we made them count this time! Way to go, Papi, Beltre, and Bill Hall! BP needs to finish! Let’s get it done, Bard! GO SOX!

Hang onto your Sox Brian (whether Red or whatever color), because I’m going to tell you that I agree with your sentiment that the Sox have done all right with Theo as their GM. Bill Hall has been a very interesting character, but as a fill-in, I don’t think anyone expected his power. And the Brewers are paying most of his salary! Way to go Theo! I suspect there will be a number of teams who would look at him as an every day player for next year. Not to mention the price they got Adrian Beltre for!!! On top of that, you have to approve of the contract amounts he got Pedey, Youuukkk, and JonL to accept long term.

For those who like to administer a beating about the contract with Lackey…they got the best pitcher available on the market this past winter, and gave him a contract equal to the 2nd starter in NY, not the 1st. Moreover, his 11 wins are as good as all but about 13 AL starters right now (2 of whom are his teammates), and if he wins his start vs. Seattle tomorrow night, that number will get smaller still. I grant his ERA has been significantly higher than his career ERA (3.88) but the man is a battler — before his next start tomorrow night, there are only 11 AL pitchers who have thrown more innings…something the Sox need this year with the bullpen dilemmas they have.

Speaking of which, I was pleased to see the performance of Prince Felix as some of you refer to him. He has done everything asked of him and, on balance, has been a plus for the Sox. I really thought the Sox would bring in Pap in the 8th to face the heart of the Jays order. Call it good baseball judgment, good karma or just good luck, they got him to throw 29 pitches, get the 6 outs needed, and leave Papelbon for another day. They may not secure a position in the play-offs, but they are pulling out all of the stops in trying to get there.

Such as their use of Clayboy today…bringing him back after a rain delay…and how good was he. I suspect on another day they would have let him pitch into the 7th inning. I wonder if they will use the off-day Thursday to bring him back on Friday vs. the Rays in front of Dice-K, rather than behind him. I suspect Theo will look to lock him up long term in the off-season. I hope he does. With his 15th win, only one AL pitcher has more, Sabathia at 17, despite the fact that Clayboy’s time on the DL has him with 6 fewer starts…and his ERA is almost a run a game lower than Sabathia’s. If he wins 5 of his final 7 or so starts, and keeps his ERA down where it is, you may be looking at the first Cy Young award winner the Sox have had since…..Pedro, I believe.

And for those of you who diss Tito and John Farrell, I believe that Clayboy was their reclamation project. It started paying dividends last year, but he’s had a really breakout year this year.

Well we’re all excited about yesterday’s win but the reality is that we have one consistent pitcher…an amazingly consistent pitcher who is the best arm in the league right now. Clay is stunning and he’s only going to get better.
Sox now have Lackey going tonight. Lugo Lackey will give up 5 – 6 runs. Can we have a big bat or 50 going tonight?

>>>> Johnny Damon in a Red Sox Uniform <<<<
.
No folks this is official. The Sox offered Damon a chance to return. Damon, who has a no trade clause will think it over. I personally think this is a bad move. Damon is too old to be long term so its either cash or dumping players on them. Short term vs. a good 2011 season.
In addition, Damon can’t fix Lugo Lackey or Beckett or Dice-K or a roughed up outfield or a tired catcher. This is a small bandage to fix a major problem.

This Sox team has shown me a lot. Every night they put a team out there that has a good chance of winning whether you recognize the names in the line-up or not. This team never gives up and has as good an attitude as both the 2004 and 2007 team. In some cases maybe even a better attitude. That’s all I can ask for as a fan since I have no control over how the $$$$ is spent or the moves that are made. This season is not over yet….at least not for me and I’d be willing to bet the team doesn’t think so either. Go Sox!!!!

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